Racing game



".l. WATLING Dec. 27, 1931s.

RACING GAME Filed March 20, 1957 l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 7. 0 u Q n ,m J

Dec. 27, 1938.

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me NS QON faq/@72 07' AM w@ Dec. 27, 1938.

J. wATLlNG RACING GAME Filed Marchzo, 1937 1o sheets-sheet 4 Mug/I Dec. 27, 1938. 1 WAT| |NG 2,141,777

RACING GAME Filed March 20, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 27, 1938. J, WATLING 2,141,777

RACING GAME Filed MaICh 20, 1937 10 SheeiS-Sheet 6 J. WATLING 2,141,777

RAC ING GAME Filed March 2o, '1937 lo sheets-sheet 7 .1. WATLING I Dec. 27, 1938.

RACING GAME Filed March 20, 1937 l0 Sheets-Sheet-8 NNN NNN

J. WATLING RACINGy GAME Filed MaICh 20., 1937 l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 Q d el U .MQW .l MN

.2 7,1938. I -J 'WATL.NG 2,141,777

4RACING GAME Filed March 20, 1957 lO Sheets-Sheet l0 Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES g oFFlcE Scale Company, Illinois Chicago, Ill.,l a corporation of Application March 20, 1937,l s'iai No.' 132,142' 36 claims. (ci. '2te-fici This invention relates to the general art of amusement devices', and has reference more particularly to a simulated racing game of that type wherein' a race course of xed length is provided over which a plurality of dummies, such as horses or dogs, move under mechanically applied power, and wherein a freely movable chance orVY permutation element is introduced that determines which of the dummies will Win a given race; the operation of the chance element being such that the owner or operator of the device cannot x it to cause any particular dummy to win, and the likelihood that the same dummy will win two or more successive races is virtually eliminated, thus providing in the operation of the apparatus practically the same uncertainty as to the outcome of the contest as exists in any fairly conducted animal race contest,

The main objects of. the invention, partly indicated in the foregoing statement, are: to provide a mechanical racing game of the character indicated that can be manually operated, and by itsclose simulation of what occurs in a natural animal racefwill afford zest and thrill to the player and onlookers; to provide a mechanical racing game apparatus that cannot be fixed in advance to determine the winner; tov provide a game apparatus wherein the outcome willv de"- pend on the position in which a freely movable chance or permutation element comes to rest, to provide a game apparatus wherein, as soon as the Winning dummy has reached the goal', the operation of the apparatus will be intermitted and the remaining dummies will stop, to provide a game apparatus wherein, when it is started in operation, the dummies will rst be retracted from the goal end of the course to the starting endrand lined up at the latter, and will then start down the course and during the racing period the dummies will successively be given accelerated speed; to provide automatic meansY for varying the duration periods of such accelerated speed movements so that one dummy may revceive a short acceleration of its speed,l another a longer acceleration, a third a still longer acceleration, etc.; and to provide a mechanical racing game apparatus of the general character above indicated which may be started in operation by a swinging movement in one direction of a single handle lever and in which all the synchronized movements of the parts of the apparatus are entirely automatic to the conclusion of the race.

Numerous other obpects and advantages of, the invention as an amusement device of the rnechania'lfracirrg type will become apparent to persons fa arwithis'uch devices from the following de'taileddes'cription of an approved embodiment' of the invention illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings', in which- Fig: 1v isaTrht' side elevation of the machine, partly in vertical sectionl on line l-l of Fig. 4, with the parts in the positions they occupy at the termination ofthe race'.

Fig. 2 is a' eanside elevation of the same.

Fig'. 31 is" a top plan View of the same, with' the racing dummies" omitted.

Fig. 4 is a frontend elevation of the same,

okenaway.

earend elevationv of the same, with Y. g Audinalvertical section, taken on line 6-6of 3.

Fi g. 7 is a longitudinal vertical section, taken 01113161447 Of Fig. 3.

Fig 8 isf anenlarge'd side elevation of. parts show'nat thewleft of l." i `g 1 shov ving a changed position of' certain operating parts.

Fig'. 9 is a n enlarged side elevation of parts shownatthe right' of Fig. 1, showing a changed position'- ci oth'eroperating parts.

Fig. 9` :i a secti vnon line 91159@ of Fig. 9.

fois a" enlarged` side elevation of parts hovv ratjthe left o f Fig. 2, showing a changed posit n ofcertainiparts.

Fig'. lil.'- is plan" section taken on the line 1 i g,A 14, is an enlarged side elevation of parts Sh" at the left Of. .Fia .1, showing coin coni179- mechesmor. releasing @100k and rendering the' machine operative on deposit of a coin. Y

Fig. a fragmentary front View of the upper prtion' Of Eig-.14-.-

ig'. l6` is a diagram of the drive mechanism which is actuated manually inrone direction to return the racing dummies from the goal end to the star'ti'n 'g end of the race course, and by a tensionedpwer spring in the reverse direction to moveT the d mies from the starting end to the goal' end o f the course.

rig. 1 7 isa' diagram of a @am that contras the throwing in and' out of the devices that eect accelerated sp'd movements of the dummies and the duration periods o'fsaid movements.

'For convenience of description the side of the section taken on the line Frame structure, track rails, and horses The frame structure comprises front andrear uprights 2l and 22 on the front side (Fig. 1) and'generally similar front and rear uprights 23 and 24 on the rear side (Fig. v2), top and bottom cross bars 25 and 26 connecting and spacing the uprights 2l and 23 and top and bottom cross bars 21 and 23 spacing and connecting the uprights 22 and 24. The lower portions of the'front side uprights 2i and 22 are connectedby a tie rod 29 and the lower portions of the uprights 23 and 24are connected by a similar tie rod 3l. Y

Rigidly secured in and supported at their ends by the frame cross'bars 25 and 21 (Fig. 3) is a group of parallel equally spaced track rails 32,

seven being herein shown, although a greater or less number may be employed. Slidable on the rails 32 are collars 33, on which the horse dummies H are mounted, as shown in Fig. 1.

Horse actuating mechanism return movement Referring to Fig. 4, journaled in and between the upper portions of the frontv uprights 2| and 23 is a shaft 34, keyed on which is a sprocket wheel 35 through which the shaft 34 is driven in both directions. Also loose on the shaft 34 vare sprocket wheels 36, each of which is aligned with one of the track rails 32,' as shown in Fig. 3. Keyed on shaftV 34 laterally adjacent to the sprocket wheels 36 are discs 31 each carrying on its face pawls 38 cooperating with .a ratchet 33 (Fig. 6) fast on the adjacent sprocket 36 to drive the latter counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 6, but permitting relative slip of the sprocket on the shaft duringV the lining up ofthe horses at the starting post when shaft 34 is rotating in the reverse direction, as hereinafter described.

Encircling the shaft 34 between the hub of each disc 3l and theadjacentsprocket is a coil thrust spring 4l that normally creates suflcient friction between each sprocketV and its associated driving disc 31 to effect rotation of thesprocket.

under a rotation of the shaft 34 in said reverse direction. Y j Y Referring to Fig. 5, journaled in and between the frame uprights 22 and 24at the rear end of the machine is a shaft 42 parallel with the shaft 34, keyed on which is a sprocket wheel 43 ofthe sameudiameter as, and in alignment with, the

sprocket wheel 35 and operatively connected with the latter by a sprocket chain 44.r Also loosely mounted on shaft 42 is a group of sprocket wheelsV 45 of larger diameter than, and in alignment with, the sprocket wheels 36 on shaft Y34 and operatively connected with the sprocket'wheels 36by chains 46.V The collars 33 onthetrack rails 32 are coupled to the top limbs of the chains 46.

The horses are caused to travel back from the goal to the starting point of the course by friction drive of the smaller sprockets 36, and are Ylined up in a row against the cross bar 25, the

Vsprocket wheels Yslipping on the shaft as the described) several collars 33 strike the'bar 25 to such an extent as may be necessary to bring all of the horses in line. This return travel of the horses is eifected by manually operated means, next to be described, which also stores energy to propel the horses on the forward or racing movement.

Journaled in a vertical wall W (Figs. 3 and 4) which may be a side wall of a cabinet enclosing the machine and having a glass cover, is a stub shaft 4l (Fig. 1), fast on the outer end of which fis the operatingY handle lever 48 of the machine that stands vertical when Vthe Ymachine is idle. Fast on the inner end of the shaft 4l is an arm 43 equipped on its free end with a contact hand l (Fig. 4). The handle lever 48Y is normally urged to vertical'position by a pull spring 52 (Fig. 3) connecting the arm 48 with an anchor pin 53 mounted in the frame member 2l. Journaled in and between the uprights 2| and 23 (Fig. 4) is apower shaft 54, loosely mounted on one end of which, just outside the frame member 2l, is an oscillatory member, the shaft of which is best shown in Fig.V 8, and comprising a hub 55, a sector ratchet 56, and an arm 51, in the free end of which latter is aV lateral pin 58 which lies across the path of swing of the hand 5l and is normally in contact with' thehand 5l when the machine is idle, as shown in Fig. l. This oscillatory member is normally urged to the position shown in Fig. 1 by a pull spring 59, and its swing in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. l, is limited by a stop pin 6l engaging a shoulder 62 on the sector ratchet 56. Pivoted on a pin 63 on the end of the sector ratchet 56 opposite the shoulder 62 isa trigger' member that forms Van element of what we term the kick-olf device, and comprises a nose 64 (Figs. 8 and 14) a rearwardly extending arm 65, and a horn 66 rigid with and disposed cross-wise of the nose 64. On the free end Vof the arm 65 is a pin 61 extending through Yan opening in the sector ratchet 56 to Ywhich pin is connected one end of a pullY spring 68 that is 1 anchored at its other end to a pin 68 on thearm V5l' so that the spring 68 normally holds Y the trigger in the position shown in Fig. 14 wherein removable pivoted coin-controlled stop H (later VReferring to Figs. 4, 8 and 12, keyed on the shaft 54 just Vinside the frame member 2| is the hub 1,2V of anv arm 13 on which a lateral pin 14 formed with a flat facer'l lies opposite to the end of the nose 64 of the aforesaidtrigger when the coin-controlledstop member Il has been raised Vfrom the full line position shown in Fig. 14 to the dottedline position so as to allow the spring 68 to swing V,the nose 64 `up behind the flat face 15 of the pin 14. This pin 'V14 forms another element of what we term the kickoff device.

Through these parts when the handle lever 48 is swung ,downwardly the shaft 54 is turned counter-,clockwise viewing Fig. 8 through approximately ninety degrees. Fast on theopposite end Vp'ortion'of the shaft 54, inside the'frame member 23 isV a quadrant lli (Figs. 3, 4 and 7), to one end ofV the periphery of Vwhich isl attached a sprocket chain Tl. This latten'as best shown in Fig. 7, extends over a sprocket wheel "I8 fast on a-transverse transmission shaft 'i9 that, as shown in' planV View Fig. 3, is journaled inV and between the frame members 22 and 24 intermediate the end portions of the frame. Loose on shaft 'I9 is Va largersprocket 8l: that is driven in a clockwise direction'viewing Fig. 6 by a pawl Yand ratchet portion of the large sprocket 8i drivingly engages the bottom limb of the sprocket chain 44, thus imparting a drive to the shaft 34 in a direction to move the several chains 46 to which the horses are attached in the proper direction to return the horses from the goal end of the course tothe starting end under the friction drive of the sprockets` 39 on shaft 34. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the other end of chain is connected to a long spring 33 anchored to one of the forward frame elements, so that, as the horses are drawn back to starting position, the spring 83 is stretched and power is stored therein for moving the horses down the course'during the racing period.

The sector ratchet 56 cooperates with a pivoted double nose dog 84 (Figs. 1 and 8) to compel a full down swing of the arm 57 before the latter can return to its starting positionV under the pull of its return spring 59. The nose of the dog is held engaged withI the teeth of the ratchet by a spring 85, and the arm 5l cannot return to its elevated position shown in Fig. 1 until the dog has been backed away from the ratchet, which is done at the end of the racing period by a lateral branch arm 86 integral withthe arm, i3, the free end of which branch arm strikes a pin 8l (Fig. 12) carried by the dog and extending through an open- .ing 36 in the frame member 2| as the arm T3 reaches the vertical position shown in Fig. l. 'I'he arm 'E3 swings from the position shown in Fig. 8 tol that shown in Fig. 1 during the return rotation of shaft 54 under the pull of the power spring 83 when the horses are racing. Also, to

prevent a slamming stroke and compel an easy down stroke of the handle lever 48 the arm 49 is connected by a link 89 and elbow lever 9| (Figs. 1 and 4) to` the plunger rod 92 of an ordinary pneumatic dash pot 93 of the door check type.

H orse adfuancmg mechanism As soon as the last horse has been lined up at the starting bar 25, the operator may release the handle bar 43 which will then return to its vertical position, and thereafter the machine is energized by the stored power in the spring 63. This transfer of motive power from the operator to the spring 33 is effected by the so-called kickoff, two elements 64 and 14 of which have already been described. The third cooperating element consists of a stationary cam 94 (Figs. 4 and 8) loose on shaft 54 between the inner side of the sector ratchet 56 and the frame member 2| that lies in the path of downward travel of the trigger arm 65. This cam has a downwardly extending tail piece 95 adjustably attached to frame piece 2| by a Vclamp screw 96 passed through an arcuate slot 9'| in the tail piece, and adjustment is effected by a screw 96 (Fig. 8). By this means the angular set of the cam 94 on the shaft 54 may be slightly varied to cause the nose 64 of the trigger to slide olf the flat face 'I5 of pin 'F4' at just the right instant to start the racing, operation. vThis sliding off movement is, of course, effected by contact of the downwardly movingA trigger arm 65 with the top side of the cam 94.

'Ihe instant this kick-off movement occurs, the stretching of the power spring 63 ceases, and said spring starts its contracting movement, during which movement it rotates the shafts 'I9 and 54 in the reverse direction to that in which they were previously rotated when returning the horses to starting `position and storing power in the spring 83. This reversed rotation of shaft 19 is transmitted to large sprocket 8| through a clutch mechanism on the opposite side of said sprocket from the ratchet drive 82. This clutch mechanism, as best shown in, Fig. 3, comprises a fixed toothed clutch member 99 fast on the sprocket 6 l, and a cooperating sliding toothed clutch member splined on the shaft I9 and actuated by a pivoted clutch-shifting lever |02. A spring |93 holds the clutch closed during the entire operating period of the machine, the clutch being opened only `when the winning horse reaches the goal to stop the machine and leave the remaining horses standing in the respective positions on the race course which they occupy when the winning horse reaches the goal, as shown for example in Fig. 3. The fact that the clutch 99, IUI, is closed during the period when the horses are 4being returned to starting position, and the sprocket 8| is being driven by the ratchet drive 82 makes no trouble, because at that time both members 99 and |0| of the clutch are turning in the same direction at the same speed and there is no relative rotary movement between them. As above stated, the clutch is opened as the winning horse reaches the goal, and this is done by a suitably timedv cam hereinafter described. 'Ihe drive of the shaft 19 counter-clockwise, viewing Fig. 6, through the sprocket 3| and chain 44 imparts corresponding counter-clockwise rotation to the shafts 34 and 42, and this rotation of shaft 34, through the pawl and ratchet drives, positively rotates the sprockets 36 in a direction to effect the forward or advance travel of the top limbs of the horse-impelling chains 46, and this at what we term the low speed. During this movement, the larger sprockets 45 loose on shaft 42 function merely as idlers, except as said larger sprockets are, during the racing period, converted into driving sprockets, taking the drive away from the opposed sprockets 36 and propelling the chains 46 at an accelerated speed for varying parts of thev racing period due to the larger diameters of the sprockets 45 relatively to the sprockets 36. This conversion of the sprockets 45 from idlers to drive sprockets is effected by clutches individual to each sprocket wheel, and these clutches are thrown in and out by the chance element.

Chance element and high speedl sprocket clutches The chance element and the high speed r sprocket clutches and clutch-shifting devices are best shown in the rear end view, Fig. 5, wherein |64 designates what we term a free spin shaft journaled in antifriction bearings 65 in the frame members 22 and 24, beneath and parallel with the shaft 42. Keyed on this shaft |64 are a plurality of hubs |06, and on one end of each hub is a radial arm |91 to which is attached, at an angle to the arm, a flexible strip |98 that functions as a cam; and behind the armY |9i relatively to direction of rotation of the shaft) is an arm |69 on which is mounted an oppositely inclined rigid cam Splined on the shaft 42 between each sprocket wheel 45 and a xed collar ||2 on the shaft is a sleeve H3 formed with a ratchet clutch face that is' shiftable into and out of engagement with a corresponding clutch M4 nfast .on the side of the sprocket wheel. The slidable clutch member |13 is engaged by a vertical clutch'shifter lever ||5 that is pivoted at dit on a transverse frame bar and is normally held disengaged from the clutch member |4 by a pull spring H6. y l

The free spin shaft |64v is'bodily shiftable end- 'a pull spring |32 and stop pin |33.

panion cam insures the opening of the clutchV if the spring should fail or the clutch stick. As before stated, when any one of the sprocket wheels i5 is thus coupled to the shaft 52, it becomes an agent for driving its chain 55 at an accelerated speed.

Chance element spinning mechanism Referring to Figs. 1, 9 and 9a, ||5l designates a ratchet wheel fast on the end of shaft |55 that overhangs the outer side or" frame member 22. Mounted toslide up and down on the outer side side of plate i2! is a relatively narrow plate |22.

In frame member 22 are studs |25, |22 and |25.

Plate |22 has vertical slots |25 and |27! engaged with studs |24, |25, and plate l2! has a slot |28 engaged with stud |23 and also` slots registering with the slots |25, |21 in plate |22 and engaged with studs |24, |25. tioned both plates are confined and guided for vertical movement with capacity of vertical movement relatively to each other.

On the outer face of plate |22 is pivoted at |29 a dog |3l, the pointed lower end or nose of which is normally held substantially in a vertical line tangent to the teeth of the ratchet wheel I9 by In the inner edge of plate |22 is a notch |35 (Fig. 9), that, in the lowermost position of both plates shown in Fig. l, is engaged by the squared upper end of the upwardly extending arm |55 (Fig. 9a) of an elbow lever that is pivoted at |35 on plate |2|. To the other arm |53' of the elbow lever is connected a pull spring |58 that urges the arm |35 into engagement with the notch |35,V as shown in Fig. l, so that when plate |2| is raised, plate |22 will be raised with it until the catch (arm |35) is dislodged from notch |35. This dislodgment is effected at the proper Ytime by a cam- 3S mount ed on the outer side of catch arm |35 that wipes across the head of stud |25. Fig. 9 shows the parts in the positions where the plate |22 is just about to drop, causing the dog i3! to strike the ratchet H9 and spin the shaft |54.. Plate |22Y tends to drop by gravity, but to insure itsV dropping movement against any frictional retardation of its guide studs |24, |25 a light pull spring |4| is preferably employed. The extent of swing of the elbow lever is limited by a pin |52 in arm |35 engaged with a short arcuate slot |23 in plate |2|.

Describing next Ythe mechanism Vfor elevating the plate |2|,.and referring to Figs. 1, 3, 8 and 9,V |55 designates as a whole a long link bar that is preferably made in overlapping. sections con- Y nected by aV spring so as to afford an elastic pull and avoid injury to the parts actuated thereby resulting from a YjerkyY or slamming manipulation of the main handle lever 58. |55 designates the forwardrsection of this link bar, and |46 designates the'rear section. Where the two sections overlap, one sectionV (for example section By the three studs men-V |46) has longitudinal slots |51 (Fig. 1) and the V other section |45 has headed studs |53 riding in the slots |41. Section |45 carries a pin |59 extending through the foremost slot |51 and section |46 carries a pin |5|. The pins |49 and |5| are connected by a pull spring |52.

Y The rear end of the link bar has a pivotal connection |53 to one arm |54 of a bell crank lever that is pivoted at |55 to theframe member 22, and the other arm |56 carries a pin |5| engaged with a horizontal slot |58 in plate |2i.

Secured to the outer side of the frame piece 2| is an angle bracket, the laterally projecting limb 59 of which (Figs. 4 and 8) has a Vertical slot |6| through which extends the link bar section |65, the bottom edge of said slot supporting said section in its lowest position. Inrthe lower edge of said section is a notch |62, appearing in dotted lines in Fig. 8 behind a guard strip |63 slidably mounted on studs |55 carried by the section |45. Inthe lower edge ofthe guard strip |53 is a notch |65, which is a duplicate of the notch |62 and is movable into and out of register with the latter. When the link bar is in its extreme forward position illustrated in Fig. 8, the notch |52 is covered by the guard strip under the pull of a spring: |56; but just Ybefore the link bar has been retracted -to its rearmost position by the fall of Vthe plate |2| a pin |51 on the guard strip |53 strikes the bracket |59 (Figs. 1 and 14), and the notches |62 and |65 are thus brought'into regis ter.

OnV the free end of the arm 'i3 isa stud |68 that, in the idle position of the parts, occupies the registering notches |52 and |55, as shown in Figs. 1 and 14. Consequently, when the handle lever 58 is swung down and the shaft 51| rocked counter-clockwise viewing Fig. 14 through the mechanism previously described, the link bar IM is drawn forwardly until the stud Y|68 slips out of the notches |52 and |65, and this forward travel of the link bar raises the plate |2| and with the latter the plate |22 until the latter is caused to drop by the action of thercam |39, as above described, thus spinning the shaft |54. The dropping of plate |21 (later in the operation of the machine) of course returns the link bar |25 to its rearmost position, and the guard strip |63 f relate the cams angularly to the clutch levers and is Ythen given an endwise shift to the right, viewing Fig. 5, to bring its cams into positions to operate the levers H5 by Va subsequent step-by- Vstep rotary movement, as hereinafter described.

Describing thisshaft shifting means, andY referring VVto Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 8,VV and 13, |59 desig nates as a Whole a long push bar that, like the link barY |54, is preferably made Yin overlapping sections connected by a spring so as to afford a cushioned pushing action. lll designates the forward section and l|12 the rearV section, the

Vinner portions of said sections slidably overlap- Vping (Fig. 3) ,jas in the case ofthe link bar |44,

and connected by pins V|13 and |14 and a spring |15. To the front face of the forward section is attached byscrew studs |16 an adjustable slotted stop strip Hl that, through contact with a slotted guide bracket |18 through which the forward section |l|| of the push bar extends, limits the forward movement of the push. bar, as shown in the plan view Fig. 3.

As shown in Fig. 13, the rear end of the rear section |22 is pivoted at |19 to one arm |8| of ai horizontal bell crank lever that is pivoted at |82 on a bracket lattached to the inner side of the frame member 22, and the other arm |84 of the bell crank lever has a forkedV end |85 (Fig. 5) carrying pins |86 engaged with a grooved collar |81 keyed on shaft |04.

As shown in Fig. 8, the forward end of the push bar. |69 lies across the path of a pin |88 (see also Fig. 4) on the rear side of the sector ratchet 5t, so that slightly before the latter reaches the position shown in Fig. 8 the bar IGS is pushed rearwardly and the free spin shaft |94 isshifted endwise through the mechanism described. The free spin shaft is returned to its initial position, at the conclusion of the racing period by a spring |22 (Figs. l and 3) after the dog 84 has been kicked off the ratchet 56 by the arm 86.

Free-spin shaft turning amd centering mechanism On the rear side of the machine is an escapement-controlled rack and pinion mechanism for effecting an intermittent or step-by-step turning of the free spin shaft IM as the race progresses, and also a device for preliminarily centering the shaft so that its cams will be operatively related angularly to the clutch levers and the pinion thereon will engage with the teeth of the rack as the shaft is shifted endwise to bring its cams into position to act on the clutch levers i5.

Fast on the end of the shaft |04 that overhangs the frame member 24 is a wide pinion |9| (Figs.v 2, and 11) that has as many teeth as there are horses on the race course (seven as herein shown). vertically slidable on guide studs |92 on the outer side of the frame member 24 is a plate |93 having one vertical edge formed as a rack |94 for cooperation with the pinion |9| and the other vertical edge having escapement teeth |95.

Fig. 2 shows the plate |93 in its lowermost position. During the operation period when the horses are being returned to starting position, the plate |93 is elevated by a mechanism very similar to that employed for elevating the plate |2|, this consisting of a long link bar |96, preferably made in two sections connected by a spring |91 to effect cushion movement. The rear end of the link bar |96 is pivoted at |98 to one arm |99 cf a bell crank lever that is pivoted at 22| on the frame piece 2li'. The other arm 252 of the bell crank carries a pin 203 engaged with a horizontal slot 2SC?, in the plate |93. The link bar |95 is normally urged rearwardly in a direction to exert a lowering eifect on the plate |93 by a spring 205 (Figs. 3 and 7). The forward portion of the link bar |96 is supported and guided in a slotted bracket 255 (Fig. 2), and in its lower edge is a notch 22'? engaged by a pin 268 on the upper end of an arm 255 that is keyed on the shaft 54 just outside the frame piece 23, as shown in Fig. 4.

Keyed on the end of shaft 'i9 overhanging the outer side of the frame piece 2@ is a disc cam designated as an entirety by 2| This cam has the double function of actuating an escapement mechanism by which the plate |23 is lowered step-by-step during the racing period of the machine, and determining the duration of the periods between successive steps, during each of which periods one of the horses is being moved at accelerated speed relatively to all the others. On the outer face of the cam disc 2|| is a lateral pin 2|2, the function of which will be later described.4 Pivoted at 2|3 on the frame piece 22 is an escapement lever 2li, the pallets 2| 5 of which are adapted to alternately engage the teeth |55 and temporarily support the plate |93 between successive downward movements. operating arm 2 I6 carries a pin 2 'l engaged with a slot 2|8 in the rearwardly extending arm 2| 9 of a lever pivoted at 22| on the frame piece 24. On the other arm 222 of this lever is pivoted at 223 an upstanding arm 224 equipped with a cam follower 225 the shaft of which rides in an arcuate slot 22E in the lever arm 222. A pull spring 22? normally holds the arm 224 vertical with the follower shaft at the right hand end of the slot 225 viewing Fig. 2. This constitutes a one-way` cam. follower device which permits the cam 2H to rotate in the direction of the dotted arrow (Fig. 17) during the period when the horses are being returned to the starting position and the spring 83 is being tensioned without operating the escapement mechanism, but does operate the escapement mechanism when the cam disc is turning in the direction indicated by the full line arrow, which occurs during the racing period. A pull spring 22B urges the escapement arm 2|5 downwardly into contact with an adjustable stop 229, and operates the escapement in one direction.

During the winding up operation, when the horses are being returned to the starting position, the cam 2|| makes one complete rotation from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 17 in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow, and during this period the spinning of the shaft, |24 occurs, and the plate |53 is raised to its highest position. During this period the pinion |9| is out of engagement with the rack |94, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the shaft is free to spin, retarded only by the slight friction of its bearings. The shaft is then shifted endwise, as has been previously described, to carry the pinion |9| into engagement with the rack |25, but before this is done it is neccessary to `center the pinion |9| Ank so that its teeth will engage with the teeth of i the rack., and this is accomplished by a device next to be described.

Pivoted at 23| on the rear lower portion of the frame piece 22 is an upstanding arm 232, on the inner end of which is a single tooth 233 located directly opposite the pinion 9|. I'he upper portion of the arm 232 is conned, with capacity of a limited edgewise swinging movement, by a stud 232 engaged wtih a slot 235, and pivoted to the upper end of the arm 232 on a pin 236 is a forwardly extending bar 23?, the forward portion of which is laterally offset to overlap the front side of the cam 2 5| in a position to be struck and raised by the pin 2l?. A spring 233 anchored at one end to the pin 236 and at the other to the upper stud |92, urges the arm 232 to the vertical position shown in Fig. 2, but permits it to be forced rearwardly to the inclined position shown in Fig. 10. On the lower edge of the bar 23'! is a catch shoulder 239 which, in the position of the parts shown in Fig. 10, engages with the upper stud |22 to temporarily hold the arm 232 in the inclined position shown in Fig. 10, wherein the centering tooth 233 is clear of the pinion ISE. An adjustable stop 22| (Fig. 10) limits the inward swing of the arm 232 under the pull of spring 238 at a time when the pinion |9| is engaged with the rack bar |94 and is disengaged from the centering tooth 233.

When the machine is at rest, the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. `2, the pinion V'|9| is disengaged from the rack |94, and the centering tooth 233 is engaged with the Ypinion |9|, as shown in Fig. 5. Obviously, before the shaft |94 can be spun, the tooth 233 must be disengaged from the pinion, and this is done during the rising movement of the plate |93 by a cam 242 on the rear edge of said plate, whichV engages a one-way follower 243 (similar in operation to the follower 225), which shifts the arm 232 to the rearwardly inclined position shown in Fig. 10, and at the same time the bar 23'? drops and the catch 239 engages with the stud |92. This is immediately followed by the dropping of the plate |22 on the opposite side of the machine and the free spinning of the shaft |04. When said shaft comes to rest, the pin 2|2 on the cam 2l! strikes and lifts the bar 231 thus disengaging the catch 239, and the spring 238 brings the centering tooth 233 into engagement with the pinion I9 I, centering the latter, and this is followed by the endwise shifting of the shaft which carries the cams thereon into operative position to actuate the clutch shifting levers H5 as the shaft is subsequently rotated and also moves the pinion into mesh with the rack |94 and out of engagement with the tooth 233. Incidentally, this centering of the pinion places the shaft |84 in a position such that one Vof the cams lill carried by the shaft is in a position to strike and actuate one of the clutch-shifting levers V| I5 as the shaft is shifted endwise, so that as the racing period starts, one of the horses starts un- Vder the impulse of its accelerated speed sprocket 45, thus taking a lead at the very start over the rest of the eld. Y

Referring to Fig. 17, which is a schematic view of the high speed VVcontrol cam 2|| Yfrom the same side and in the same position as Vit is shown in Fig. 2, the periphery of the cam disc has three elevations marked A, B and C having arcuate tops or peaks 2, 4 andV B respectively, of varying lengths and concentric with each other and the axis of the disc, and inclined sides. Between the starting point S and the approach side of elevation A, the descent side of A and the approach side of B, the descent side of B and the approach side of C, and the descent side of C and the point S are four arcuate bottoms marked I, 3, 5 and 'l respectively, that are also of Varying lengths and concentric with each other and the axis of the disc.

Assuming that the disc starts to rotate counterclockwise, as indicated by the solid arrow, with plate E93 in its highest position, as the follower travels over bottom I the high speed drive thrown in by the centering and endwise shifting of the shaft |04, as before described, remains in, and one of the horses takes a lead over the rest of the field at the very start. As the follower climbs A the escapement is actuated, the plate |93 drops one tooth, shaft |04 is Vgiven oneseventh of a complete rotation, the first high speed drive (I) is Vthrown out and another is thrown in which lasts only for the short duration represented by the length of top 2. As the follower then drops off A the escapement is again actuated, plate |93 drops another tooth, shaft |84 is given another one-seventh of a Vcomplete rotation, the Vsecond high speed drive (2) is thrown out and another is thrown in which lasts for the duration represented by the length of bottom 3. This continues until the cam disc has Vcompleted one revolution, plate |93 has dropped During this revolution of the cam disc 2| |,Ythe

pin 2|2 kicks oif the catch 239 and allows the arm 232 carrying centering tooth 233 to swing back to vertical position (Fig. 2), so that, as the free spin shaft |04 is drawn back to its first position by its returning spring |89 at the conclusion', of the race, the pinion |9| is drawn into engagement with the centering tooth 233 and the free spin ratchet 9 is returned to a position to be hit by the dog 3| (Fig. 5) on the next operation of the machine.

. Y Speed retarding device To insure the operation of vthe machine during the racing period, a power storage spring 83 of ample capacityV is employed, and to somewhat slow down the speed of the entire field of horses during the race, a speed retarder is employed on the rear side of they machine. This device is in the nature of a pneumatic brake, and, as herein shown, consists of a speed-multiplying gear train designated as an entirely by 244 (Fig. 3) mounted in a box 245 (Fig. 2) attached to the outer side of the frame piece 23. The initial gear of the train is fast on a shaft 246, and floose on the shaft 246 is a pinion 241 Vthat is fast with a disc 248, said disc having Vdogs 249 engaged with a ratchet disc 25| fast on the shaft 246, and driving said ratchet disc only in one direction. Keyed on the shaft 54 is a toothed sector 252 meshing with and driving the pinion 241. During the winding up period, when the horses are being brought back tothe starting point, the gear sector 252 idly rotates the disc 248 of the ratchet clutch. Fast with the shaft of the last gear of the speed multiplying train 2441s a spindle 253 on which is mounted a wind vane 254.

When the power spring 83 assumes the load, 'and the shaft 54 is Vturned counter-clockwise viewing-.Fig 2, the toothed sector 252 slowly descends, driving the gear `train through the oneway ratchet clutch, and rotating the vane 254 .at a high speed, and the wind resistance on the vane slows down the drive of the parts in an obvious manner.

Machine movement throw-out As heretoforey stated, the Vmachine is so designed as to its mode of operation that, when the winning horse reaches the goal, the drive of all the horses ceases, and the horses are all stopped in their tracks. This is effected by the following described mechanism.

Referring to the two side views Figs. l and 2, 255 designates each of twin arms that are pivoted at their lower ends at 255 to the frame Vmembers 22 and 24 and extend above the latter.

In the top edge of each arm 255 is a notch 251, and in these notches are seated the ends of a transverse goal bar 258l (Fig. 3). The arms 255 are normally urged inwardly by pull springs 259, as partially indicated in Fig. 9, the extent of both forward and rearward swing of the arms being limited by studs 26| passed through arcuate slots 262 in the upper portions of the arms. In the inner edge of the arm 255 on the front side of the machine (Figs. 1 and 9) is a notch 263 that receives a pin 254 in the top of the plate I2I when the latter is raised to its highest position, the pin 25d riding over the forward edge of the arm until it reaches the notch 263, whereupon the spring 259 causes the notch to engage with the pin and thus support plate i2! in its fully elevated position until the termination of the race. On the rear side of the upper portion of plate S21 is a vertical cam 265, best shown in Fig. 5, that cooperates with a follower 25B on the rear end of the lever |92 (see Fig. 3) which throws out the clutch member lillV that drives the large sprocket 8|.

When the collar 33 carrying the leading horse 'strikes the goal bar 255, it pushes the latter and the arms 255 rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. l, which disengages the pin 264 from the notch 263 and allows the plate l2! to drop. Near the end of this dropping movement the cam 255 rides over the fo-llower 265, as shown in Fig. 5, and this disengages the clutch member IUI from its cooperating clutch member 98, halts the drive of sprocket 8l, andbrings the machine Vto rest. At this point the quadrant 15 fast on shaft 54 (Fig. 7) should reach its lowest position, in contact with an adjustable stop 261; but if, when the clutch IBI, 99 is disengaged by the cam 255, the quadrant le has not quite reached its! lowest position and the arm i3 fast on shaft 54 has not returned into operative engagement with the link bar 44, the spring 83 continues its pull on chain 'il until said parts are fully restored to starting position.

Coin-controlled lock amusement machines of this and similar char- `ing been previously referred tc as the pivoted coin-controlled stop H shown in Figs. l and 8. In the idle position of the machine this stop H blocks the pivote-.d trigger member on the sector ratchet 5t from swinging to a position in which its nose @il can operatively engage the flat face l 'i5 of the pin 'i4 in order to return the horses to starting position and wind up the power spring The stop member il must be lifted out of the way to permit the machine to operate, and this is done by the coin-controlled device, which is principally illustrated in Figs, 14 and l5.

Journaled in and between the upper portion of the frame member 2i and an adjacent vertical bracket 258 bolted to the front cross bar 25. is a shaft 269. Fast with the shaft 25g is an upstanding jaw member 2H, and also pivoted on the shaft 25B by half bearings 2li and 2'33 that are united by screws Elli is a forked jaw 275, the twin members of the fork lying on opposite sides of the jaw 2H. Keyed on shaft 25d is an arm 2% carrying a crank pin 2li that is connected by a downwardly extending link 218 with the arm 5l. Secured to or integral with one of the rear half bearings H3 is a radially extending arm 2'59, to the free end of which is connected a link 23E, the lower end of which is connected to the pivoted stop ll.

A pull spring 282 connected to a tail piece 283 of the arm 216, and a similar pull spring 285i connected to a tail piece 255 of one of the bearings 2!2, 2?3, maintain the two jaws 2li and 215 in vertical position and separated sufficiently to permit a coin to drop into the space between them, as shown in Fig. 15, the coin being dropped through an overlying chute 286. lIlhe coin thus locks the two jaws against relative movement, so that the down pull of link 218 rocks arm 2?9 upwardly and through link 2d! raises the stop 'il to the dotted line position shown in Fig` 14. In the preoperating position of the parts there sufcent clearance between the trigger nose @d and the face 'i5 of pin ld to permit the stop li to be raised before the nose 6d reaches the plane of the face l5.

In practice, the coin-controlled starting mechanism is equipped with means for dislodging the coin from the jaws and delivering it to a coin receptacle after each operation of the machine; but since the coin-controlled mechanism for locking the machine against operation does not, per se, form any part of the present invention, such coin delivery mechanism has been omitted.

Operation 'Ihe operation' of the apparatus has to a considerable extent been described in connection with the descriptions of the several cooperating mechanisms, but a brief description more particularly setting out the timing or sequence of operation of the several mechanisms may assist an understanding of the apparatus as a whole.

An idle position of the apparatus as the parts appear at the conclusion of a race and before the next operation is started is shown in Figs.

l to 7 inclusive, in which position the tooth 233 movement, the centering tooth 233 is thrown I out of engagement with the pinion im, leaving the free-spin shaft free to rotate, the horses are drawn back to starting position, power is stored in the spring 83, the rack plate E93 is raised to its highest position, plates l2! and H22 are raised, the free-spin shaft is whirled and plate i2! is suspended from arm 255, the centering tooth 233 is then let into engagement with the pinion EBI to center the free-spin shaft, the freespin shaft is then shifted endwise to carry its pinion i3! out of engagement with the centering tooth 233 andinto engagement with rack ld and its cams into operative relation to the clutch shifters M5, and the cam 2l I makes an idle lcomplete revolution in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow in Fig. 1'?. As the handle lever swings down, the shaft-turning mechanism is locked against a partial stroke by the dog 311 engaged with sector ratchet 55. The kick-off (sliding of trigger nose 5d eff the face l5 of pin It) occurs when the handle lever has nearly reached the limit of its down swing (see Fig, 8) at a time determined by the set of cam Qt, at which time the dummies have all been lined up at the starting bar 25,

and thereupon the load is transferred to the power spring 83 and the dummy-driving devices are operated in the reverse direction by spring 33. During the racing period the free-spin shaft is given a step-by-step rotation by rack ISA and pinion lei to successively throw in the high speed sprockets 35, the descending movement of the rack being controlled by the escapement mechanism (Figs. 2 and 10) and this latter in turn being controlled by the cam 2II to determine the times at which the free-spin shaft is partly rotated and the duration of the driving periods of the high speed sprockets 45. As soon as the kick-off has occurred, the handle lever i may be released, and it then returns to upright position under the pull of its spring 52. The arm 5? and parts carried thereby cannot, however, return to starting position until dog 8B hasbeen backed off fromV ratchet 56, which is done by arm 33 (Fig. 6) as arm 13,'fast on shaft Eli, slowly returns to vertical position 'during the racing period. As soon as the ratchet 55 is thus freed, said ratchet'an'd its associated arm 5l return to normal starting position shown in Fig. 1 under the pull of spring 59.

When the winning horse strikes the goal bar 253, the plate I2I is released and drops, and the vertical cem 235 on the rear side thereof actuates the clutch lever H32 (Fig. 3) toropen the clutch 39, till, and arrest the operation of the machine, leaving the remaining dummies in various trailing positions as illustrated, for example, in Fig. 3. As the arm 5l thus returns to starting position at the conclusion of thel racing period, the pin ISS carried thereby moves away from the end of bar ISB, so that Vthe spring I8!! can then,

through said bar and the parts actuated thereby (Fig. i3), return the free-spin shaft to its inoperative position, thereby bringing the pinion 153i again into engagement with the centeringY in the same position, and this consequently will cause different horses to win successive races. And since the shaft is whirled by mechanical means, and not directly by the operator of the machine, there is no chance for the operator to hx the result.

This invention may be developed within the scope of the following claims without departing from its esse-ntial features, and the specification and drawings are to be regarded as merely illustrative and not in a limiting sense, except as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim:

l. In a racing game apparatus, the combination of a frame, parallel rectilinear track rails mounted on said frame, endless sprocket chains respectively mounted parallel with said track rails, dummies slidably mounted on said rails and attached to said chains, a powerY spring, manually operable means for actuating said chains in a direction to Veifect the return movement of the dummies to starting position and foi` simuitaneously tensioning said spring, means.

motivated by said spring for actuating said cha-ins at a uniform speed in a direction to effect the racing movement of the dummies, and chance controlled means for effecting successive increases of speed of the respective chains during the racing movement.

2. In a racing game apparatus, the combination of a frame, parallel rectilinear track rails mounted on said frame, endless sprocket chains respectively mounted parallel with said track rails, dummies slidably mounted on said rails and attached to saidV chains, a power'spring, manually operable means for actuating said chains in a direction to effect the return movement of the dummies to starting position and for simultaneously tensioning said spring, means motivated by said spring for actuating said chains at a uniform speed in a direction to effect the racing movement of the dummies, and means for effecting successive increases of speed of the respective chains during the racing movement, said last named means including chance controlled means for determining to Which of said chains said speed increase is first applied.

3. In a racing game apparatus, the combination of a frame, parallel rectilinear track rails mounted on` said frame, endless sprocket chains respectively mounted parallel with said track rails, dummies slidably mounted on said rails and attached to said chains, a power spring, manually operable means for actuating said chains in a direction to effect the return movement of the dummies to starting position and for simultaneously tensioning said spring, means motivated by said spring for actuating'said chains at a uniform speed in a direction to effect the racing movement of the dummies, means for effecting successive increases of speed of the respective chains during the racing movement, said lastnamed means including chance controlled means for determining to which of said chains said speed increase isriir'st applied, and means for varying the duration of said speed variations relatively to each other.

4.111 an apparatus ofthe class described, means for propelling racing dummies back and forth at varying speeds over a rectilinear race track, comprising, in combination, shafts journaled crosswise of the starting and finish ends of said track, a plurality of sprockets loose on each of said shafts, the sprockets on one shaft being of larger diameter than those on the other lbeing of larger diameter than those on the other shaft, endless'r chains trained Yover aligned sprockets, dummies attached to the respective chains, means for rotating said shafts, clutch means for drivingly connecting said shafts to their respective sprockets, and chance controlled means acting through the clutch means on one of said shafts for causing said chains to. be successively driven by either said small or said large sprockets during the racing period.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, means for propelling racing dummies back and forth at Varying speeds over a rectilinear race track, comdirection, said clutches permitting over-running prising, in combination, shafts journaled crosswise of the starting and finish ends of said track, a plurality ofVr sprockets loose on each of said shafts, the sprockets on one shaft being of larger diameter than those on the other shaft, endless chains trained over aligned sprockets, dummies attached to the respective chains, means for rotating said shafts, said rotating means rotating both shafts simultaneously in the same direction, clutches for drivingly connecting said shafts to their respective sprockets, and chance controlled means acting through the clutches of one group of sprockets for causing the latter to successively drive their respective chains at a speed different from the driving speed of the other group.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, means for propelling racing dummies back and forth over a rectilinear race track comprising, in combination, shafts journaled crossvvise of the starting and nish ends of said track, relatively small and large sprockets loose on said shafts at the starting and finish ends respectively, endless chains trained over aligned sprockets, dummies attached to the respective chains, means for rotating said shafts in both directions, and chance controlled means for causing said chains tobe successively driven by either said small or said large sprockets during the racing period.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, means for propelling racing dummies back and forth over a rectilinear race track comprising, in combination, shafts journaled crosswise of the starting and finish ends of said track, relatively small and large sprockets loose on said shafts at the starting and nish ends respectively, endless chains trained over aligned sprockets, dummies attached to the respective chains, means for rotating said shafts in both directions, clutch means for drivingly connecting said shafts to their respective sprockets, and chance controlled means acting through the clutch means on one of said shafts for causing said chains to be successively driven by either said small or said large sprockets during the racing period.

9. In an apparatus of the class i described, means for propelling racing dummies back and forth over a rectilinear race track comprising, in combination, shafts journaled crosswise of the starting and finish ends ofsaid track, relatively small and large sprockets loose on said shafts at the starting and finish ends respectively, endless chains trained over aligned sprockets, dummies attached to the respective chains, means for rotating said shafts in both directions, said rotating means rotating both shafts simultaneously in the same direction, clutches for drivingly connecting said shafts to their respective sprockets, and chance controlled means acting through the clutches of said larger sprockets for causing the latter to successively drive their respective chains at increased speed.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, means for propelling racing dummies back and forth over a rectilinear race track comprising, in combination, shafts journaled crossvvise of the starting and finish ends of said track, relatively small and large sprockets loose on said shafts at the starting and finish ends respectively, endless chains trained over aligned sprockets, dummies attached to the respective chains, means for rotating said shafts in both directions,"said driving means rotating both shafts simultaneously in the same direction, clutches on the shaft at the starting end for driving its associated sprockets in Vone of their associated sprockets, normally open clutches on the shaft at the finish end, and chance controlled means for successively closing said last named clutches to thereby cause said large sprockets to pick up the chain drive from said small sprockets ,and drive their respective chains at accelerated speed during the racing period.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, means for propelling racing dummies back and forth over a rectilinear race track comprising, in combination, shafts journaled crosswise of the starting and finish ends of said track, relatively small and large sprockets loose on said shafts at the starting and finish ends respectively, endless chains trained over aligned sprockets, dummies attached to the respective chains, means for rotating said shafts in both directions, said drivingV means rotating both shafts simultaneously in the same direction, clutches on the shaft at the starting eno. for driving its associated sprockets in v one direction, said clutches permitting over-running of their associated sprockets, normally open clutches on the shaft at the finish end, chance controlled means for successively closing said last-named clutches to thereby cause said large sprockets to pick up the chain drive from said small sprockets and drive their respective chains at accelerated speed during the racing period, and friction clutches on the shaft at the starting end cooperating with the sprockets on said lastnamed shaft to drive said chains in the reverse direction when said shafts are rotated in the reverse direction, whereby to return the dummies to starting position.

l2. In an apparatus of the class described, means for propelling racing dummies back and forth over a rectilinear race track and lining them up at the starting end of said track comprising, in combination, shafts journaled crosswise of the starting and finish ends of said track, sprockets loose on said shafts, endless chains trained over aligned sprockets, dummies attached to the respective chains, means for rotating said shafts in both directions, clutches splined on one of said shafts cooperating with the sprockets thereon to drive said chains in a direction to propel the dummies toward the finish end, chance controlled means for successively engaging said clutches With said sprockets, friction clutches on one of said shafts cooperating With the sprockets thereon to drive said chains in the reverse direction to return the dummies to the starting end of the track, and a bar extending across said starting end against which the dummies are lined up, said friction clutches permitting slip of the sprockets engaged therewith Whenthe dummies strike said bar.

13.1n an apparatus of the class described, means for propelling racing dummies back and forth over a rectilinear race track and lining them up at the starting end of said track comprising, in combination, shafts journaled cross- Wise of the starting and finish ends of said track, sprockets loose on said shafts, endless chains trained over aligned sprockets, dummies attached to the respective chains, means for rotating the shaft at the starting; end in both directions, pavvl and ratchet clutches on said lastnamed shaft cooperating with the sprockets thereon to drive said chains in a direction to propel the dummies toward the nish end, friction clutches on the same shaft cooperating with the sprockets thereon to drive said chains in the reverse direction to return the dummies to the starting end, and a bar extending across said starting end against which the dummies-are lined up, said friction clutches permitting slip of the sprockets engaged therewith when the dummies strike said bar. Y

14. In an apparatus of the class described, means for propelling racing dummies back and forth at varying speeds over a rectilinear race track, comprising, in combination, shafts journaled crosswise of the starting and nish ends of said track, a plurality of sprockets loose on each of said shafts, the sprockets on one shaft being of larger diameter than those Von the other shaft, endless chains trained over aligned sprockets, dummies attached to the respective chains,

means for rotating said shafts, clutches on saidV shafts through which rotation is imparted to said sprockets, clutch Shifters associated withrthe clutches on one of said shafts, and means for actuating said clutch Shifters to close said lastnamed clutches comprising a free-spin shaft, cams for engaging said clutch Shifters spaced lengthwise of and around said free-spin shaft, and means for effecting Step-by-step rotation of said free-spin shaft to bring said cams successively into engagement with said clutch Shifters during theY racing period.

15. In an apparatus of the class described, means for propelling racing dummies back and forth at varying speeds over a rectilinear race track, comprising, in combination, shafts journaled crosswise of the starting and finish ends of said track, a plurality of sprockets loose on each of said shafts, the sprockets on one shaft being of larger diameter than those on the other shaft, endless chains trained over aligned sprock- V ets, dummies attached to the respective chains,

means for rotating said shafts, Vclutches on said shafts through which rotation is imparted to said sprockets, clutch Shifters associated with the clutches on one of said shafts, and means for actuating said clutch Shifters to close and then open said last-named clutches comprising a freespin shaft, pairs of cams for engaging said clutch Shifters spaced lengthwise of and around said free-spin shaft to bring said pairs of cams successively into engagement with said clutch shifters during the racing period, one cam of each pair operating to close a clutch and the other to open the same clutch. Y

16. In a racing game apparatus wherein racing dummies are propelled over a race track by sprocket chains each trained over sprockets of unequal diameters and wherein both sprockets of each chain are convertible between driving and idler functions, means for successively converting the sprockets at one end of the chains'from idlerV to driving sprockets to change the speed of the chains comprising normally open clutches associated with said last-named sprockets, clutch Shifters, and means for actuating said clutchY shifters comprising a free-spin shaft, cams for engaging said clutch Shifters spaced lengthwise of and around Said'free-spin shaft, meansV for spinning said free-spin shaft during the return period of the dummies, and means for effecting step-by-step rotation of said free-spin shaft during the racing period. Y

17. In a racing game apparatuswherein racing dummies are propelled over a race track by sprocket chains each trained over sprockets of unequal diameters and wherein both sprockets of each chain are convertible between driving and idler functions, means for successively converting the sprockets at one end of the chains from idler to driving sprockets to change the speed of the chains comprising normally open clutches asso- V ciated with said last-named sprockets, clutch Shifters,Y and -means for actuating said clutch Shifters comprising anY endwise shiftable freespin shaft and cams spaced lengthwise of and around thefsame, said free-spin shaft and its cams being in inoperative position relatively to said clutch shifters when the apparatus is idle, means for spinning said shaft and then shifting the same to operative position during the return period of the dummies, and means for effecting step-by-step rotation of said free-spin shaft duringthe racing period.

18. In a racing game apparatus wherein racing dummies are propelled over a race track by sprocket chains each Vtrained over sprockets of unequal diameters and wherein both sprockets of each chain are convertible'between driving and idler functions, means for successively convertingY the sprockets at one end of the chains from idler'to driving sprockets to change the speed o f the chains comprising normally open clutches associated with said last-named sprockets, clutch Shifters, and means for actuating said clutch Shifters comprising an endwise shiftable free-spin shaft and cams spaced lengthwise of and around the same, said free-spin shaft and its cams being in inoperative position Vrelatively to said clutch Shifters when the apparatus is idle, means for spinning said shaft and then shifting the same to operative position during the return period of the dummies, means for centering said shaft to bring one of its cams into operating engagement with a clutch shifter, and means for effecting step-by-step rotation of said free-spin shaft during the racing period'to effect successive closing of the remaining clutches.

19. In a racing game apparatus wherein racing dummies are propelled over a race track by sprocket chains each trained over, sprockets of unequal diameters and wherein both sprockets of each'chain are convertible between driving and idler functions, means for successively converting the sprockets at one end Yof the chains from idler to driving sprockets to change the speed of the chains comprising normally open clutches associated with said last-named sprockets, clutch shifters, and means for actuating said clutch Shifters comprising an endwise shiftable free-spin shaft and cams spaced lengthwise of and around' the same,Y said free-spin shaft and its cams being in inoperative position relatively to said clutch Shifters when the apparatus is idle, means for spinning said shaft and then shifting the same to operative position during the return period of the dummies, means for centering said shaft to bring one of its cams into operating engagement with a clutch shifter, means for effecting step-by-step rotation of said freespin shaft during the racing period to effect VVsuccessive closing of the remaining clutches, and 

